IoT Device Provisioning via Secure Element Key Pair Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional IoT device manufacturing faces challenges in securely provisioning and registering electronic devices due to complex cybersecurity requirements, high costs, and the need for sophisticated cybersecurity expertise, especially when devices are deployed across multiple ecosystems.
Innovation Solution
A method for securely registering and provisioning IoT devices involves inserting a keypair into a secure element, requesting credentials from a server, verifying the device credentials, registering the device, and transmitting a device certificate for installation, thereby simplifying the process while maintaining security without requiring extensive cybersecurity knowledge from manufacturers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PKI ecosystems are used for device provisioning, then security is maintained through cryptographic key management, but the process becomes expensive, complex, and difficult to implement especially when devices are deployed across multiple ecosystems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the provisioning process into distinct phases: manufacturing phase where secure elements are provisioned with initial credentials, and deployment phase where devices are registered with service providers. This segmentation allows complex security operations to be performed once during manufacturing, simplifying subsequent deployment across multiple ecosystems without repeating the entire provisioning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-provisioning secure elements with cryptographic credentials during the manufacturing phase, before devices are deployed to multiple ecosystems. This preliminary provisioning includes inserting keypairs and establishing trust anchors, so that when devices are later deployed, the complex cryptographic setup has already been completed, reducing both cost and complexity.
2Reliability
If manufacturers implement their own PKI provisioning at manufacturing level, then device security is improved, but the cost and difficulty of implementation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secure element as an intermediary component that handles cryptographic operations independently of the main device processor. This secure element acts as a mediator that can be provisioned with credentials during manufacturing without requiring the manufacturer to implement complex PKI infrastructure. The secure element manages key storage, cryptographic operations, and credential validation, thereby improving device security while simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices are deployed across multiple ecosystems with different key requirements, then ecosystem compatibility is improved, but the provisioning process becomes more complex requiring different keys for each ecosystem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a secure element that can store and manage multiple cryptographic credentials and keypairs simultaneously. This allows a single device to be provisioned for multiple ecosystems without requiring separate secure elements or complex key management systems. The secure element can selectively present appropriate credentials based on which ecosystem is being accessed, providing multi-ecosystem compatibility while maintaining simple key management from the device manufacturer's perspective.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for registering and provisioning an electronic device is provided. The method includes a step of inserting a first keypair into a secure element of the electronic device. The first keypair includes a public key and a private key. The method further includes a step of requesting, from a server configured to register and provision connected devices, a provisioning of credentials of the electronic device. The method further includes a step of verifying, by the server, the electronic device credentials. The method further includes a step of registering, by the server, the electronic device. The method further includes a step of transmitting, from the server to the electronic device, a device certificate. The method further includes steps of installing the transmitted device certificate within the secure element of the electronic device, and provisioning the electronic device according to the installed device certificate.